Friday, August 31, 2012

In 2011 Legendary Martial Arts fighter Joe Lewis had been
diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor which he had removed, but lost his final
match on August 31 passing away at the age of 68.

Born in 1944, Lewis joined the Marines in 1962 and began
his martial arts training while stationed in Okinawa under numerous masters and
earning his black belt in just seven months. After returning to the US he
trained privately with Bruce Lee, even being considered for the role that
eventually went to Chuck Norris in Way of the Dragon.

Lewis dominated the fight world through the 60’s and 70’s
attaining titles of “United States Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion”, “World
Heavyweight Karate Champion”, and “ United States National Black Belt Kata Champion”.
During his time in the ring he faced off against some of the best fighters in
the world including Chuck Norris, Allen Steen, Skipper Mullins, Bob Wall, J.
Pat Burleson and many more. In 1983 Lewis was voted by promoters and fighters
as the greatest fighter of all time ahead of both Chuck Norris and Bill
Wallace.

In addition to his titles and too many legendary fights,
he took a turn in several martial arts films starring alongside people like
Christopher Lee, Donald Pleasence, and Robin Shou just to name a few. His last
role is in the upcoming film Kill ‘em All due out in 2012.

Joe Lewis was more than just an actor or fighter, he was
a martial artist. He did numerous appearances and seminars that no doubt
touched martial artists around the world. He has left more marks in the minds
and souls of those that respected and looked up to him than he ever did on
opponents in the ring. His passing has left a void in the martial arts world
that will not soon be filled, but his spirit and love of the martial arts will
live on in those that loved and respected him.

Speaking from experience, if you ever had the joy and
honor to meet Lewis you no doubt walked away a better person, martial artist,
or both. Lower your heads and bow to a passing master who will live on forever
in the minds and hearts of the warriors that follow him and will miss him
always.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Russian stage, radio, film and TV actor Igor Kvasha died
in Moscow today August 30, 2012 at the age of 79.

Igor Kvasha was born in Moscow on February 3, 1933, the
son of scientist Vladimir Ilich Kvasha, who worked at a faculty at the
Mendeleev Russian University of Chemistry and Technology. His mother, a
teacher, worked in schools for the mentally disabled.

Kvasha graduated from the Moscow Art Theater School,
where he was taught by Aleksander Karev. After graduation he joined the Moscow
Art Theater troupe and performed there for two years (1955-1957). In 1957 he
started work at the newly-established Sovremennik Theater, where he remained.

Recently, the talented actor became a host for a
remarkable TV talk show of the Russian TV First Channel “Zhdi menya” (“Wait for
Me Russia”). Kvasha himself acknowledges that he has got where he is by
accident. But he still had such vision an an open minded, spiritual man that he
became the host of the show.

Russian actor, director Igor Vladimirovich Kvasha was
born February 4, 1933 in Moscow. His father taught at the Moscow Institute of
Chemical Technology named after DI Mendeleev was the head of the department,
died in 1943 in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg).

He was awarded the Order "For Services to the
Fatherland" III degree (2006) for outstanding contribution to the
development of theatre and many years of creative activity

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Steve Franken died on August 24, 2012. Born Steven Robert Franken in Brooklyn, New York, he was the son of a Hollywood press agent. His first screen role was in 1958 as "Willie" in CBS' Playhouse 90 dramatic series. Producer Rod Amateau saw him in a Los Angeles stage production of Say Darling and cast him as playboy dilettante Chatsworth Osborne, Jr., on the CBS series "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis". Franken appeared as a recurring guest in numerous episodes beginning midway through the first season and continuing through the fourth, from 1960 to 1963. Franken attributed the character's look of pained condescension to an ulcer he had suffered since age 14, when his mother died.
Feeling typecast, he sought out villainous roles but also played another rich wastrel role on the short-live sitcom Tom, Dick and Mary, and went on to a long career as a television and film character actor.

Immediately after the cancellation of Dobie Gillis, Franken was cast in the supporting role of Lieutenant Samwell "Sanpan" Panosian in the NBC series The Lieutenant, the first television series created by Gene Roddenberry. He also played other military roles, such as a decorated US flyer turned arms dealer and traitor in "The Gun Runner Raid" episode of The Rat Patrol and in Disney's Follow Me, Boys! as a P.O.W. lieutenant. He appeared in at least six episodes of ABC's Bewitched in various roles from 1966 to 1971, as George Barkley; Juke, the Carlotta-domineered son; Orvis the poodle-like alien; Cousin Henry (Uncle Arthur's son Henry), and other characters.
Franken appeared as the drunken waiter Levinson in the 1968 The Party, alongside Peter Sellers. He appeared on Love American Style from 1970-1973. He appeared as Officer Albert Porter in three episodes of NBC's Adam-12 from 1971-1972. In 1979, he starred as Tom Voorhies in Disney's The North Avenue Irregulars. He appeared again with Peter Sellers in 1980 as Pete Williams in the mystery film The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu. He was as an actor/director on many episodes of the religious TV anthology series Insight.

In 2002 and 2003, he provided voices for Law and Order computer games.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

On Saturday August 25 the actress Manola Saavedra died.
The singer was born in Spain in 1936 and participated in several films, the
most representative of her work was Raquel's “Bolero”, alongside Mario Moreno
Cantinflas.

Her face and her peculiar harmonious beauty opened the
doors of the art world. In 1957 she participated in the “Swamp of Lost Souls”, “La
cama de piedra y Yo picador”

She also did important work on the small screen, some of
the series in which her name appeared in were: Mi amor frente al pasado, Risas
amargas, Teresa, Una pasión me domina, El ángel caído, La era de oro, Madres
egoístas y Valentina

Manola Saavedra is gone, but the legacy of her work is
part of the history of cinema and television.

Monday, August 27, 2012

KINOSHITA (Kino), Lloyd Hiroya Age, 93 Born
May 16, 1919, Seattle, WA Died: July 21, 2012, Woodland Hills, CA A singer,
actor, devoted son and brother, and the best uncle ever. Lloyd worked with the
greats in Hollywood for more than 50 years with roles in, Godzilla, Mortal
Combat, and Miss Congeniality 2, well into his 80s. He appeared in some great TV
from 1960 through 2004 including McHale's Navy, Hawaii 5-O, Star Trek, Happy
Days, Remington Steele, Nancy Drew, Major Dad, In Living Color, NCIS, and CSI.
He was fortunate to make a living doing what he loved. He is preceded in death
by his parents, Tadashi and Etsuko Kinoshita and his brothers Robert T, Kenny
(George) and Roy Kinoshita. He is survived by sister, Kay Kinoshita Copeland;
nephew, Robert Kinoshita; nieces, Lynne Copeland Hamp and Gwyne Copeland Taylor;
and seven grand nieces and nephews, Amanda, Miranda, Tadashi, Mathew, Barrett,
Gregory, and Mariko.

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Born Alice Lake on November 23, 1924, she took the stage
name of Anita Linda and was a two-time FAMAS award-winning and Gawad Urian
award-winning Filipino film actress. A romantic lead in her youth, she later
gained critical acclaim for her portrayals in maternal or elderly roles. At the
age of 74, she became the oldest actress to ever win a FAMAS award, when she
was named Best Supporting Actress for Ang Babae sa Bubungang Lata. In 2008, at
age 83, she was named Best Actress in the 10th Cinemanila International Film
Festival (Southeast Asia Film Competition) for her portrayal of the titular
character in Adela.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Actor Jeffrey Stone died at his home in Penang, Malaysia,
on August 22, 2012. He was born John Forrest Fontaine in Detroit, Michigan, on
December 16, 1926. He spent much of his childhood in an Indiana orphange after
the death of his father. He joined the U.S. Navy in his teens to serve during
World War II. He began his career in films in the late 1940s with small roles
in "You Were Meant for Me" (1948) and "Train to Alcatraz"
(1948). He was a model for Prince Charming for Disney's 1950 animated classic
"Cinderella". He was billed as John Fontaine for his roles in the
films "Army Bound" (1952), "Battle Zone" (1952),
"Fighter Attack" (1953), "Bad for Each Other" (1953),
"Wonder Valley" (1953), and "Drive a Crooked Road" (1954).
He starred as D'Artagnan in the Italian television series "I Tre
Moschettieri" (aka "The Three Musketeers") in 1954, which also
featured Paul Campbell, Sebastian Cabot, and Domenico Modugno Musketeers
Aramis, Porthos, and Athos. Several episodes of the series were edited together
for European theatrical release including "Knights of the Queen"
(1954), "The King's Musketeers" (1957), "La Spada
Imbattibile" (1957), "Le Imprese di Una Spada Leggendaria"
(1958), and "Mantelli Espade Insanguinate" (1959). Stone was also
seen on television in episodes of "Private Secretary", "The
Californians", "The Loretta Young Show", "Johnny
Midnight", "Richard Diamond, Private Detective", "The
Millionaire", "Adventures in Paradise", "Death Valley
Days", "Surfside 6", and "The Outer Limits". His other
film credits include "Edge of Hell" (1956), the cult classic
"The Girl in the Kremlin" (1957) with Zsa Zsa Gabor, "The Big
Beat" (1958), "Damn Citizen" (1958), the horror film "The
Thing That Couldn't Die" (1958), "Money, Women and Guns" (1958),
the 1960 Mexican production "El Jinete Solitario' en El Valle de los
Desaparecidos: La Venganza del Jinete Solitario" as Zorro, and the
off-beat comedy "When the Girls Take Over" (1960). Stone wrote the
story for the 1964 science fiction film "The Unearthly Stranger", and
wrote and directed the 1966 feature "Strange Portrait". He left the
film industry in the 1960s to travel throughout Southeast Asia and the Pacific
over the next four decades. He wrote several novels set in Asia in later years
including "Leters to Rainbow" and "The Other Side of
Rainbow", and the autobiography "Whatever Happened to Prince
Charming? A Memoir by Jeffrey Stone, the Original Prince Charming". Stone
was married to actress Barbara Lawrence from 1947 to 1948, French actress Corinne
Calvet from 1955 to 1960, and Christina Lee from 1965 to 1972.

About Me

Born in Toledo, Ohio in 1946 I have a BA degree in American History from Cal St. Northridge. I've been researching the American West and western films since the early 1980s and visiting filming sites in Spain and the U.S.A. Elected a member of the Spaghetti Western Hall of Fame 2010.